POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. – Marist graduate Terrence Fede became the first football player in school history to be selected in the National Football League Draft on Saturday. Fede was chosen by the Miami Dolphins in the seventh round with the 234th overall pick.

"It means the world to me. I've been playing football since I was nine years old, and have been dreaming about getting my name called," Fede said. "Then I thought about Marist. We made history all year with the records that we broke. Being the first player to be drafted capped off our championship season."

Fede joins an organization which signed former Red Fox Michael Rios in April. Last year, Rios became the first Marist football player in program history to sign an NFL contract, when he joined the Arizona Cardinals on a rookie free-agent deal.

"I was watching the draft live, and when I saw his name pop upon the screen, I thought I was dreaming," Rios said. "It was surreal. I had a good feeling it might happen, but just a real strong sense of excitement. I'm excited for him and Marist because he's the first to get drafted, and it could have happened to a better person."

Fede concluded his Marist career as the program’s all-time leader in sacks with 30.5, as well as the program’s all-time single-season leader with 13 in 2013. Last season, Fede was named Pioneer Football League Defensive Player of the Year, and finished sixth in the voting for the Buck Buchanan Award, which is presented to the best defensive player in the Football Championship Subdivision. With 13 sacks in 11 games, Fede led the FCS in sacks per game this past season. He was named an All-American by five separate outlets.

In his Marist career, Fede finished with 215 total tackles, 47 stops for a loss of yardage, 12 pass break-ups, three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. He earned All-PFL honors three times, with a Second Team selection in 2011, and First Team selections in 2012 and 2013.

In 2013, the Marist football team won a share of the PFL championship for the first time in the Red Foxes’ five years in the league. With an 8-3 overall record, Marist achieved its highest win total in its 36 years as a varsity program.

"I'm very happy for Terrence and his family; his mom and dad have really supported him through this," Head Coach Jim Parady said. "It really helps us as a program. Coming off a PFL championship and having two guys in the NFL, with one being drafted, gives us more credibility when we go into schools.